Under Construction

Stylin'

Let me start by saying I love Elsie's blog, A Beautiful Mess and am inspired by her passion and all the hard work she puts into her business. But, I must admit, I don't really connect with her fashion sense. It could be a case of "she has a sense of style and I don't" (likely) or just that I'm not hip to what 20-somethings are wearing these days (likely) or the midwest has a different style than California (likely) but her style combos don't really do it for me.

So it's extra hilarious that every time Biscuit gets dressed lately I feel like she's channeling Elsie what with the knee highs, sandals with socks, layered leggings, headband/turbans and big bag accessorizing. A few cases in point of Biscuit's recent, carefully chosen ensembles.

I swear she also wore a heavy coat--it was 37 degrees out this morning. This was for a Monday at school.

This ensemble (plus doll) was for a nature hike yesterday. Want to see the back highlighting her preferred way to wear a scarf?

The Ugg boots are a new favorite--thanks, mom.

Note the headband and socks. And why the tank tops with cold weather? I need to hide them!

The umbrella and purse are popular accessories and the striped socks a constant favorite (thanks, Grammie). This was for a trip to the Farmers' Market. Reader Mike tells me sandals over socks are common in Portland so it could be my little fashionista is just misplaced on the globe.

::

Unrelated--I am in the process of cleaning out literally THOUSANDS of messages from gmail. A mix of spam and real stuff that I let get completely out of control. I'm seeing lots of months old things that I missed so if you have ever emailed me, I'm sorry. I'm trying to do better I promise :(

Hello, would you like to hear about (my) pregnancy?

Didn't think so. But I only have half a brain cell left and I might want to remember some of this stuff. Case in point: Biscuit's first word. Realized tonight I have no idea what it was. Neither does Mr. H. Oops. Maybe I should search the archives. Eh, whatever, it was probably mama, right?

ANYWAY. Tomorrow I'll get my "your baby is the size of xyz vegetable" email alerting me I am 26 weeks pregnant. (I initially typed 27, apparently getting ahead of myself). Last week (25 weeks) Oscar was "an average rutabaga" because doesn't everyone have a mental picture of a rutabaga? I know my veggies and I am unclear on average rutabaga sizes. Hopefully week 26 brings a more common vegetable.

If memory serves (it doesn't) I felt slightly worse during the first trimester with Oscar than I did with Biscuit but in the grand scheme of pregnancy I can't complain AT ALL. I was very tired and needed to eat a lot and felt gross a lot but was not really sick (she says now, 12 weeks later). I was obsessed with sweet, hot beverages (apple cider! chai lattes!) and popcorn. During the first trimester I was repulsed by the thought of coffee. I'm grateful that went away so I've been able to be awake for at least part of the pregnancy.

I know I felt lots better right around 12 weeks because we went to France and I was able to have lots of fun.

Food cravings of the second trimester: Mexican food, yogurt (especially plain yogurt with granola CANNOT EAT ENOUGH), chai lattes, rice pudding. Hmm, lots of dairy which is weird since I don't actually like milk. The popcorn thing seems to have gone away. Unfortunately, also wine. What pregnant lady craves wine? Me, dang it.

Annoying things: I already mostly have to sleep sitting up to avoid waking up at 2 am with a mouthful of bile (told you you didn't want to hear about pregnancy). It's SO gross so sleeping sitting up is the far better option here. Oh, and I feel like I have a bruise on the inside. Some part of Oscar is consistently shoving me in the upper right part of my big belly and it hurts.

Wonderful things: Biscuit. She gives Oscar hugs and kisses several times per day. She also inquires about his wellbeing (directly to him through the tummy) and sings him songs and reads him stories. We have lots of conversations about how she's planning to help once he arrives: diaper changes=no, pacifier retrieval=yes, spit up cleaning=no, trying to make Oscar laugh=yes. If she maintains even 25% of this enthusiasm once he's on the scene we will be ALL SET.

Oscar things: He likes to move around a lot and I am enjoying all of it (except the bruise). I had a (creepy) dream he gave me a high five through my stomach and that hasn't happened but he does poke out a foot/arm/elbow now and again and I can kind of nudge it back in which I find oddly cool.

Things I realized today I should probably start thinking about: Diapers. So many options these days. Hospital tour. Same hospital but it's been 5 years. Might be worth a refresher visit. Biscuit's field trip. Her BIG end of year trip is June 2 and no, I will not be attending nor will Mr. H regardless of the Oscar status. Need to decide who will chaperone (every kid is required to bring one) and get that person finger printed (stupid rule). Baby stuff: I'm not at all stressed because I don't think babies need much but they do need something (see: diapers) and I know I'll need a few things (see: 'diapers') so it probably wouldn't hurt to make a Target run in the next 12ish weeks. If I start procrastinating now, I'll probably make that trip before I hit 37 weeks and we'll be set.

Maternity leave: scheduled for May 15-Oct 1. WOOHOO! That's 16 weeks home with baby. For an American that's pretty dang awesome. And Canada, you can just shut it with your one year mat leave. I'd have a baby there too if I could.

And thus concludes what may be my only note to self about being pregnant with Oscar.

Summary: it's great!

<<imagine belly shot here>>

Images of a Daisy

Since January 1 I've been challenging myself to take a photo a day and post to Flickr. Who knows if this will last through all of 2011 but I've made it to February 24 at least. I've got a lot of Daisy (Girl Scout) photos of late. It's cookie season, you know. And World Thinking Day was this week.

She pulled the wagon for a lot longer than she sewed on patches ;)

Tropical fruit for a discussion of Bolivia as part of our Thinking Day activity/celebration (there was a connection in there somewhere--it involved coconut cookies). Oh, this recipe was so easy and SO good. Perhaps the best macaroons cocadas I've had (or maybe I was just hungry?)

 

Fun times!

P.S. Could Biscuit's shoes be any funnier? Her cousin gave her those sandals and she is obsessed. I won't let her wear them to school so she changes into them every day when she gets home. Over socks!

Bossy much?

I was in Biscuit's class last week and her teacher let her read the morning story to the class. Apparently she does this regularly. Her teacher commented that it would but funny to get on video and I happened to have my camera in my bag so here you go.

If I were the teacher or her classmates I think I'd find this completely obnoxious but everyone there seems okay with it.

Sorry, it's a long video (posted mostly for the grandparents) but it might be worth watching for the last 15 seconds when she basically reprimands a classmate for not paying attention! Sheesh!

Original art

I've mentioned before how much I like Lauren's art. And look what I got! A commission that was a b-day gift from Mr. H.

And the first of her "unlaced" series--a shoe for Oscar that came for Biscuit. So fun!

And I moved our phone and "crap collecting surface" to a less obvious kitchen counter and now have a little tribute to Lauren+felt rock haven. Could use some styling but better than the phone+crap.

Happy Valentine's Day

Thanks, Biscuit, for your willingness to be a hand model and Dad, for the photoshop assist.

Spraying paint--part 2--the soap bottles

Not as big or exciting as part one but still a fun little makeover.

Before:

Ready to prime:

You'll note that some of the bottles changed. I made a few realizations

1. some labels are hard/impossible to remove

2. the top (pump or squirter) is the only important part of a soap dispenser

3. many plastic bottles have the same size screw top and are thus interchangable

4. we don't use many plastic bottles in our home.

Thus, the large dish soap bottle was replaced by an empty aquafina water bottle and the rest I had to make do. The Lava soap was abandoned. The masked areas are partly for decor and partly to have a visual aid for when the soap is running low.

After:

The blue painters tape wasn't perfect for masking and we had a really odd assortment of spray paint colors on hand so I went 100% kitschy. Not sure how they'll hold up but there you go.

And who doesn't love a little metallic gold fleck over ballet slipper pink? I mean, come on!

Spraying paint--part 1--the credenza

It doesn't happen often but I love it when I can go from idea to supplies to execution of a project in a matter of days.

Recently I decided we MUST have a low credenza in our downstairs playroom/laundry room/tv room/computer room/disaster zone. It would be PERFECT for Biscuit to store supplies and keep toys/projects out of reach of Oscar (for a while). Then I had the genius (and I thought, original) idea to use chalkboard paint.

So I head to thrift store and find not one but FIVE identical credenzas. Never seen one there before but the forces aligned for me that day. Ugly but sturdy and conveniently without hardware to interfere with the chalkboard surface! I convince Mr. H this is perfect and pay $25. He picks it up that evening.

A few days later: We spend far more on good (tinted) primer and a quart of chalkboard paint than we did the credenza. I disassemble credenza and mask it off. Mr. H sprays primer.

The very next day! Mr. H is at work. Credenza is still in the yard looking battleship gray covered in primer. I gather my bravery, have a long phone consultation with Mr. H and personally clean the sprayer and spray two coats of chalkboard paint while Biscuit is at school. I also paint the inside with leftover paint from another project and I even manage to clean the sprayer again! Mr. H comes home and helps with moving and reassembly.

And, done:

I invited Biscuit to initiate the credenza and handed her the chalk. She wasted no time at all.

Let no surface remain untouched from the deconstructed messages of love (I think it's love)

And as of tonight the new credenza is already sporting a thick layer of folded laundry awaiting the laundry fairies to put it away. Maybe I'll get off ye olde internet and go take care of that.

Monoprint(ish) Valentines

I should start by noting my complete lack of art training but I had a vague memory of the term "monoprint" and a random desire to try it so I googled and then faked it.

I cut up an extra piece of bamboo flooring into 4ishx5ish inch pieces and quartered some nice, heavy art paper into 6ish by 7ish pieces. I also found some mailing tags and acrylic craft paint in the craft room.

Biscuit (or I) used a paintbrush to cover the entire smooth side of the flooring block with a thin, even coat of paint.

Then we used a q-tip to remove some paint and make a design. (q-tip worked far better than alternatives we tried including: dry paintbrush, other end of paintbrush, finger, other color of paint)

Then we pressed the paper (or tags) on top and rubbed really hard with our fingers trying not to move the paper at all.

Voila! Biscuit will write From/Love, Biscuit on the front and tape a Trader Joes mini chocolate bar (28 bars for $1!) to the back and call it a Valentine.

Sadly, the project didn't scale well. We tried it with nine Daisy Girl Scouts and encountered problems such as: slow painting and delays=>too dry paint; frustration with the inherent imperfect nature of the print even in best circumstances; a general desire to just paint directly on paper. Oh well, I had a great time!

A walk in the woods

 

the vertebrates

fungus 'n' stuff